Oxy Sports Pros Return to Campus Oct. 4

Occidental College alumni are successful in a variety of fields, from the arts and entrepreneurship to politics and medicine.a

But as graduates of a small Division III school, the success of Oxy alumni in sports is often overlooked.

That's why the Occidental Sports Business and Law Network is hosting an Oct. 4 discussion panel featuring five former Tigers who have risen to the top in pro sports, in an event cosponsored by the Occidental College Athletic Department.

Jim Mora Sr. '57, former NFL coach now best known for his "playoffs" rant as the coach of the Indianapolis Colts, headlines the group of Oxy alumni that includes Vance Mueller ‘86, Trevor Moawad '95, Mike Libby '06, and Sam Farmer '88.

It is a dynamic group that represents coaching, sports journalism, scouting, training, and the pro athlete. Mueller was a running back for the Oakland Raiders when they were in Los Angeles; Moawad is director of the International Management Group Performance institute in Florida; Libby works with the San Francisco 49ers scouting department; and Farmer is the NFL beat reporter for the Los Angeles Times.

At 8 p.m., the quartet will participate in a discussion panel touching on topics such as the prospects for the return of the NFL to Los Angeles and how best to crack into the sports industry. Then at 9 p.m., Mora will take the stage for a one-on-one conversation with OSBLN president Travis Brody '12. Admission is free for Occidental students and $5 for the general public.

Brody spearheaded the effort to bring the alumni back to campus to showcase Occidental's rich, 120-year-old athletic tradition -- the College was one of the founders of intercollegiate competition in Southern California -- and connect current members and Occidental students to future internship and job opportunities.

"I think it will increase Oxy's exposure and give our members and the entire campus an opportunity to hear about Oxy grads who have had successful careers in sports," Brody said. "We'll learn about their time at Oxy, how they felt Oxy prepared them for the business world, and just recognize some of our most successful alumni."

Brody, who will serve as the event's moderator, has been instrumental in the development of the OSBLN after taking over last April. The network now has more than 100 members, a website, and an online discussion forum the Occidental community can use to network.

Brody thinks the event and network will benefit anyone interested in sports, but particularly Oxy student-athletes. "We want to show Oxy students that a career in sports can be a very positive thing and that there are a lot of opportunities for them," Brody said.